The Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail - Ohio Hub Study

Technical Memorandum & Business Plan 

The Ohio Hub Plan is a bold vision to invest in a network of fast, frequent and reliable passenger trains while increasing transportation capacity for moving more freight by rail. At a time when Ohio faces critical challenges to our mobility and economy, the Ohio Hub will link passenger and freight trains to Ohio’s highway, aviation, transit and port facilities to create a seamless, multimodal transportation system that will benefit our citizens and businesses. By advancing a policy of investing in our rail system to achieve public benefits and generate economic development activity, the Ohio Hub breaks with the traditional models of how to create and operate passenger rail service. Such a new paradigm is necessary if Ohio and the nation are to effectively address such issues as creating new options for moving both people and freight, growing the economy, creating new jobs, conserving energy and improving air quality. To do this, we must look upon our railroad network as “an essential transportation investment,” just as we have done historically for highways, aviation, transit, waterways, communications, water, sewers and electrical power grids. The time for such investment is now. Based on criteria established by the Federal Railroad Administration, the system envisioned in the Ohio Hub Plan would generate sufficient ridership to produce revenues that would cover the overall operating costs. Investing in Ohio’s rail infrastructure will help strengthen our state’s assets as a premiere gateway to international markets and a North American hub for the distribution and logistics industries. Clearly, transportation planning and economic development in Ohio must go hand-in-hand. The Ohio Hub Plan not only recognizes this, but actively promotes and advances these objectives. It is time to harness our state’s strengths and partner with the private railroads to create a regional rail hub that effectively addresses our critical mobility needs now and into Ohio’s future. We invite you to read the Ohio Hub Plan and discover a vision and hope for Ohio’s transportation future.